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Ericsson | Regional Connect Magazine
Closing the digital divide: Five things rural carriers can do to accelerate 5G
5G for rural communities has increased in importance during the last six months. The pandemic has shown the severe negative implications of broadband shortcomings in rural areas. The FCC has proposed a $9 billion 5G Fund for Rural America, and the first regional carriers have activated their 5G networks. This article covers five concrete actions regional carriers can take to accelerate the path to 5G in rural communities.
1. Educate your community on the role of broadband for economic prosperity. Late in 2019, this task was envisioned as significant from both a motivational and an educational perspective for 2020. But the pandemic has put the spotlight on this need like never before. Access to a digital work environment has been vital to telework
and remote education. The workforce and students see the direct coupling between access to broadband infrastructure and economic activity. Expect a significant demand from your community to understand the options for both fixed and mobile broadband services. • Position 5G, as the 21st-century farm roads, required to connect the rural economy to the economy in urban areas.
• Bring forward the opportunities with remote counseling in healthcare, out of necessity for physical distancing today but also as a long-term reality in rural America. • Put the spotlight on the education sector, highlighting immediate needs for K-12 and the longer-term potential with remote access to college education from rural communities.
